Nebraska Women’s Basketball Stuns Illinois in Big Ten Tournament Second Round — But Controversy Follows
In a hard-fought battle that showcased both grit and controversy, the Nebraska Cornhuskers stunned Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, pulling off a 72-68 victory that left fans, analysts, and even officials in heated debate.
The game, held at Target Center in Minneapolis, opened with Illinois playing like a team on a mission. The Illini, led by senior guard Makira Cook, dictated the tempo early, using a lethal mix of perimeter shooting and interior physicality to build an 11-point first-quarter lead. Nebraska, however, had no intentions of folding. Freshman phenom Natalie Potts sparked a 14-3 run in the second quarter, igniting Nebraska’s signature defensive intensity and turning the contest into a brutal back-and-forth affair.
What transpired in the final quarter, however, will likely linger in Big Ten lore far longer than the box score.
With 3:21 remaining, Nebraska’s Jaz Shelley, the undisputed heartbeat of the Huskers, drained a controversial corner three that initially appeared to graze the side of the backboard — a shot some Illini players and coaches vehemently argued had stepped out of bounds just prior. Replay review was inconclusive, leaving the shot to stand, giving Nebraska a narrow 65-64 lead that they would never relinquish.
Adding fuel to the fire, Illinois was assessed a critical technical foul with 2:05 left after Head Coach Shauna Green aggressively confronted officials over inconsistent foul calls, particularly a non-call when Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski appeared to extend her forearm into Illinois forward Kendall Bostic’s midsection on a rebound attempt. The technical resulted in two free throws for Shelley, widening the gap to five and inciting a cascade of boos from the Illinois faithful.
The game’s officiating, already under scrutiny after multiple questionable block/charge decisions throughout the night, became the defining subplot in what should have been a celebration of Nebraska’s relentless resilience. Shelley finished with 19 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals, epitomizing the Huskers’ tenacity on both ends of the court. Markowski added 16 points and 12 rebounds, dominating the paint against a frustrated Illinois frontcourt.
But Illinois was far from passive in their response. Cook, who led all scorers with 23 points, called out the game’s “one-sided officiating” in her postgame press conference, stating, “We deserve better. The players deserve better. This isn’t just about one game — this is about the integrity of this tournament.” Her comments were quickly picked up by national outlets, sparking debates across sports talk shows and social media about whether the Big Ten has an officiating bias toward marquee programs like Nebraska.
As Nebraska advances to face a surging Indiana squad in the quarterfinals, the Huskers do so under the shadow of controversy. Yet, for Head Coach Amy Williams and her players, none of that matters. “We play hard, we play the right way, and we’re moving on,” Williams said postgame. Whether Nebraska can maintain their momentum — and avoid further controversy — remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the Big Ten Tournament just got a lot more interesting.
Let me know if you want me to make it even more controversial or add any twists!
